Dominican Church (Maria Rotunda Basilica)

The Dominican Church, also known as the Church of St. Maria Rotunda, stands as a significant early Baroque parish church and minor basilica within Vienna's historic center. It represents the third church to be constructed on this historically important site. The current edifice, a testament to the Counter-Reformation's renewed sense of purpose, was initiated in 1631 and completed with its consecration on October 1, 1634. Its design, following the plans of Jacopo Tencala, architect to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein, and executed by master builders Jacopo Spacio, Cipriano Biasino, and Antonio Canevale, introduced the Italian Baroque style to Vienna.

History and Construction

The Dominican order first established a presence on this land, allotted in 1225-1226, with the construction of their initial church in 1237. This was expanded between 1240 and 1270, with a new choir added in 1273. A subsequent Gothic church was built from 1283 to 1302, with its nave extended between 1458 and 1474. This structure suffered significant damage during the first siege of Vienna by the Turkish army in 1529, leading to its partial demolition and subsequent dilapidation. The current Baroque church, begun in 1631, saw its structural work finished by 1634, with final touches completed in 1674. In 1927, it was officially recognized as a basilica minor, known as the "Rosary Basilica ad S. Mariam Rotundam."

Architecture and Artistry

The church's impressive facade is rendered in a Roman-Lombardic style, characterized by prominent columns supporting the cornice, drawing inspiration from early Baroque churches in Rome and the facade of Florence's Santa Maria Novella. Above the portal, statues of St. Catherine of Siena and Agnes of Montepulciano are depicted kneeling before Our Lady, the church's patron saint. The interior is equally striking, featuring a long central nave, side chapels, a transept, choir, and apse. The nave measures approximately 25 meters in length, 14 meters in width, and 22.10 meters in height, while the dome ascends to 23.80 meters. The ceiling is adorned with exquisite stucco decorations and semi-circular windows that cast a soft light on the barrel-vaulted frescoes by Matthias Rauchmiller (1675), which illustrate 46 scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Carpoforo Tencalla contributed significant historical paintings to the apse, depicting Christian victories attributed to the power of the Rosary, including the Battle of Muret and the Battle of Lepanto. The dome's fresco, dating from 1836 by Franz Geyling, portrays Our Lady and Child under the Trinity, surrounded by angels. Notable sculptures include the four original Doctors of the Church in the supporting columns and medallions featuring three Dominican popes and St. Antony of Florence.

Further artistic highlights include the main altar retable by Carl Roesner (1839-1840) and a large canvas by Leopold Kupelwieser (1840) depicting the establishment of the Feast of the Rosary. The gilded pulpit, created by Matthias Steinl in 1700, is a masterpiece inspired by an engraving by Jean le Pautre. The transept chapels house altars dedicated to various saints, including Saint Dominic, with a painting by Tobias Pock, and Saint John of Nepomuk. The side chapels also feature significant artworks, with paintings by artists such as François Roettiers and Frans Luycx, and sculptures from the workshop of Johann-Georg Bendl.

The organ, with its gilded concave-convex balustrade, dates from around 1750 and represents a transition between Baroque and Rococo styles. The organ itself, with 34 registers, was constructed between 1895 and 1896. A painting under the rood loft from 1642 illustrates the glorification of the rosary and the mediation through Saint Dominic.